Automatic book page turning apparatus



Nov. 4, 1969 s u lc l D ET AL 3,475,844

AUTOMATIC BOOK PAGE TURNING APPARATUS Filed Sept) 20, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS SHUKICHI UDA- YUTARO IGARASHI ATTORNEY FIG-.1

Nov; 4, 1969 SHUKICHI UDA ETAL 3,475,844

AUTOMATIC BOOK PAGE TURNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2A

NOV. 4, 1969 5 u UDA ET AL I Y 3,475,844

AUTOMATIC BOOK PAGE TURNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. 2B

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NOV. 4, 1969 s u c -u D ETAL 3,475,844

AUTOMATIC BOOK PAGE TURNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20. 1967 5Sheets-Sheet 4 r //l I I l/l/ V T: 1 4

a 3 i 4 4 ////Z/ Nov. 4, 1969 SHUKICHI UDA ETAL 3,475,344

wwomuc aoox mas TURNING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 20, 19,67 5 sh ets-sheet 5United States Patent vs. oi. 40-104 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe swinging arm 6 (FIG. 1) carries an arm extension 29 with fingers 31,32. As the arm swings from the rest position (FIGS. 1 and 2) to the pagepick-up position (FIG. 3), the arm extension 29 swings in to bring thefingers 31, 32 within the radius of the book pages; and the fingersopen, as successively shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C. The adhesive tip offinger 32 then picks up the page as the arm reverses and finger 31closes (FIG. 5D). As the op eration cycle en'ds, arm extension 29 swingsoutwardly to release the page from the fingers (FIG. 1).

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for automaticallyturning the pages of a book.

As used in the specification, the term book is defined broadly toinclude any combination of paper pages or leaves containing informationto be read. Thus, the term is intended to include books, magazines,newspapers, and other documents or papers. It may include musicalcompositions for instance, and the documents or papers may either be inprinted or manuscript form.

There are many situations in which it is very desirable and useful toprovide means for automatically turning the pages of a book. Forinstance, a musician may find that it seriously impairs his performanceto interrupt his playing to turn to the next page of his music. Anautomatic page-turning apparatus is also very useful for persons who aretemporarily or permanently disabled and thus unable to turn the pagesmanually.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved automatic page-turning apparatus for individually turning thepages of a book.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improv'edautomaticbook page-turning apparatus which is very reliable and efiective forturning only one page at a time.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved page-turningapparatus in which the speed of the moving-parts changes in a smoothmanner, Without sudden accelerations and decelerations, to provide quietand trouble-free operation.

In carrying out the invention in a preferred embodiment thereof, thereis provided an apparatus including an arm arranged for swinging movementfrom one side of the book to the other. A first finger is carried by thearm which includes a finger tip having pressure sensitive adhesivethereon for engaging the upper side of the book page to be turned. Asecond finger is carried by the arm and pivotally arranged to swing intoengagement with the underside of the page after it has been lifted bythe first finger.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the apparatus in the rest position, after onepage-turning cycle of operation, and before the next cycle of operation.

FIG. 2A is a partial front view of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2B is a partial front view of the apparatus corre- Patented Nov. 4,1969 sponding to FIG. 2A, but showing the main arm of the apparatusswung over to the page pick-up position.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the finger mechanism in the page pick-upposition.

FIG. 4 illustrates part of the mechanism which imparts the swingingmotion to the arm.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D are partial front views which illustrate theoperation of the fingers of the apparatus at various parts of thepage-turning cycle.

The structure and operation of the apparatus can be very brieflyoutlined as follows:

When the page-turning operation is desired, an electrical circuit isclosed by a conventional electric switch (not shown) which starts anelectric motor. The motor causes the rotation of a shaft 5 and theassociated main arm 6 shown in FIG. 1. The arm thus rotates in aclockwise direction from the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A to theposition shown in FIG. 2B. Fingers 31 and 32 are carried through an armextension 29 by the arm 6. As the arm approaches the extreme rotatedposition of FIG. 2B, finger 31 pivots open as shown in the successiveFIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C.

At the same time, the arm extension 29 swings into a proximately adegree angle with main arm 6 to bring finger 32 within the radius of thepage, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Finger 32, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, isan adhesive finger. That is, it has an adhesive tip. To provide thisproperty, this finger may be coated, for instance, with one of the knownpressure sensitive adhesive materials. The arm continues its downwardtravel from the point shown in FIG. 5C until finger 32 touches andadheres to the top page. The arm then reverses its travel, lifting thepage. After the page is lifted, the finger 31 swings into the closedposition shown in FIG. 5D to engage the underside of the lifted page. Atthe same time, the finger 32 swings pivotally with respect to theremainder of the structure so that the non-adhesive part 33 is arrangedopposite to the tip of finger 31. This serves to, at least partially,disengage the surface of the page from the adhesive portion 32, the pagebeing engaged by and carried between the non-adhesive finger portion 33and the tip of the finger 31. As the arm returns toward the originalposition shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, the outer portion of the arm carryingthe fingers 31 and 32 is moved radially outwardly beyond the outermostradial edge of the page to the position shown in FIG. 1 by movement ofarm extension 29 with respect to main arm 6. In this manner, the fingersdisengage completely from the page during the final portion of thepage-turning movement.

Referring particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a desk 4 which isarranged to support a book 1, the pages of which are to be turned by theapparatus of the invention. The position of the book upon the desk 4 ispreferably maintained in a positive manner by a suitable positioningdevice. This may take the form of a holding device 2 which isillustrated as used with a magazine or newspaper book. With aconventional hardcover book, the holding device 2 may be arranged toslide inside the back of the binding of the book beneath the pages.Beneath the upper surface of desk 4, and forming a part of the structureof the desk there is a gearbox enclosure 3'. Within the gearbox there isprovided a conventional electric motor with a reduction gear and areciprocating motion mechanism which is described more fully inconjunction with FIG. 4. The reciprocating motion mechanismdrives theshaft 5 through a complete rotational oscillation cycle each time a pageis to be turned. The maximum angle of rotation is somewhat less thandegrees, Stationary cams 7 and 8 are mounted upon a hub surroundingshaft 5 and cooperate with cam rollers 9 and 10 respectively to providevarious operating functions of the apparatus in conjunction with theswinging motion of the arm 6. The

cam follower roller 9 operating in conjunction with earn 7 shifts anauxiliary bar 11 radially outwardly against the force of a return spring18. The bar 11 is positioned and guided upon slotted connections at thesupport posts 13, 14 and 15 upon the main arm 6. The arm extension 29 ispivotally connected to the main arm 6, and in turn supports the fingers31 and 32. The angle which the arm extension 29 maintains with the bodyof the main arm 6 is determined by the bar 11, the end of which bearsagainst the side of the arm extension 29. Thus, when the bar 11 isshifted radially outwardly by the operation of roller 9 upon cam 7, itcauses an outward movement of the arm extension 29 and the fingers 31and 32. Arm extension 29 is spring biased for rotation against the endof bar 11 by a spring 21 illustrated in FIG. 2.

The roller 10 operating in conjunction with fixed cam 8 pushes anauxiliary bar 12 radially outwardly against the force of a return spring19. Bar 12 is shown more clearly in FIGS, 2A and 2B. It is supported andguided upon the main arm 6 by guide members 16 and 17. At its outer endit is provided with a gear rack 27. Gear rack 27 is arranged to engagewith pinion gear 28 when the bar 12 is moved radially outwardly inresponse to the operation of roller 10. Pinion gear 28 is fixed to andforms a part of, a shaft 30 which is rotatably mounted upon the armextension 29 and connected to swing the pressing finger 31 asillustrated in FIGS. A, 5B, and 5C.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the shaft 30 is spring-biased for rotation ina direction to cause finger 31 to move to the closed position, as shownin FIG. 5D, whenever the gear rack 27 is disengaged from pinion 28. Themain arm 6 is provided with a pivoted latch arm 23 having a latchinghook which engages a projection 22 on the auxiliary bar 12 when bar 12is in the radially extended position, to hold bar 12 in that extendedposition. The finger 31 is thus held open until the latch 23 isreleased. The latch 23 is released at the appropriate time by a latchrelease lever 24. Lever 24 is pivotally mounted at 24A to the main arm6. Lever 24 is rotated to provide the disengagement of latch 23 at theappropriate time by the engagement of a projection 25 formed at theopposite end of lever 24 with a projection 26 provided on the cam 8.This actuation is provided during the return rotation of arm 6 withrespect to the fixed cam 8 and the projection 26 as will be describedmore fully below.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the arm extension 29 is rotationallybiased in a clockwise direction (with reference to FIG. 1) by means of atorsion spring 21 having one end connected to the main arm 6, and havingthe other end connected to the arm extension 29, and having the mainbody position at the pivotal connection between these two parts.

Attached to the arm 6, as shown in FIG. 2A, there may be provided asmall wire tension cable43 extending through an opening in the gearbox 3and arranged for mechanical connection to an electrical switch. Thecable 43 is thus capable of mechanical actuation of the switch to openthe circuit to the operating motor whenever the arm 6 returns to therest position shown in FIG, 2A.

As shown in FIGS. 5A-5D, the adherent finger 32 is pivotally connectedto its supporting structure at a pivot 32A. It is spring biased in acounterclockwise direction, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, to place thenon-adherent portion 33 opposite to the tip of the finger 31. However,the angle of this finger can be adjusted through movement imparted bymeans of a small wire cable 35 from a crank member 35A. The crank member35A is arranged to be rotated clockwise in response to counterclockwiserotation of the finger 31 by means of an arm 34 which is formed as apart of the hub portion of the shaft 30, and rotates therewith. Arm 34engages the other end of the crank 35A and presses against that crank tocause the rotation in response to rotation of the axle 30. Thus,whenever the finger 31 is open, as shown in FIG. 5C, the adhesive tip offinger 32 is rotated into the operative '4 position. However, whenfinger 31 is in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 5A, thenon-adhesive portion 33 of the finger 32 is rotated into the operativeposition to cooperate with the tip of finger 31.

FIG. 4 is a sectional inside view of the gearbox 3 illustrating some ofthe major components of the drive mechanism. The view is one lookingoutwardly from the inside of the gearbox toward the end of the shaft 5illustrated in FIG. 1. A drive shaft 37 is driven through suitablereduction gears by a standard. electric motor. Shaft 37 rotates a drivedisc 36 to which a connecting rod 38 is connected by a pin 41.Connecting rod 38 is connected at a pin 42 with a crank arm 39 which isfixed to the shaft 5 previously referred to in connection with FIG. 1.When the disc 36 rotates, the connecting pin 42 is caused to move alongthe guide groove 40 which is formed in the wall of the gearbox. Thiscauses the crank arm 39 and the shaft 5 to swing over, and then back tothe original position illustrated in FIG. 4 during each revolution ofthe drive disc 36. While the guide groove 40 is illustrated as having asubstantially constant radius with respect to the center of shaft 5, itwill be understood that with this construction the guide groove 40 maybe provided with a varying radius. Thus, the effective radius of thecrank arm 39 may be varied at different angles of rotation to achievedesired variations in the speed of operation of the arm 6 at differentangular stages of rotation.

A detailed explanation of the operation of the apparatus is as follows:An electric switch is closed to start the electric motor within thegearbox 3. The drive disc 36 then rotates in the direction of the arrow(in a counterclockwise direction), driving the crank arm 39 and theshaft 5 through the connecting rod 38. After the disc 36 has rotatednearly 180 degrees from the initial position, the motion of the pin 42and the crank arm 39 slows down as the pin 41 approaches the over-centerposition and then the return stroke. Thus, the main arm 6 secured to theshaft 5 turns slowly as the finger portion 32 approaches the surface ofthe page which is to be engaged. After the rotating disc 36 passes overcenter, the motion of the pin 42 and the crank arm 39 is reversed toreturn to the initial position shown at FIG. 4.

The initial rotation of shaft 5 is a clockwise direction to swing themain arm from the position shown in FIG. 2A towards the position shownon FIG. 2B. At the initial position of the arm shown in FIG. 1, theangle formed between the main arm 6 and the arm extension 29 is about120 degrees, thus positioning the fingers 31 and 32 beyond the outermargin of the book 1 and its pages. However, because the radius of thefixed cam 7 decreases in the portions successively engaged by theassociated cam roller 9 during clockwise rotation of the arm 6, the bar11 is retracted by the return spring 18 and the biasing spring 21 shownin FIG. 2A causes the arm extension 29 to reach a reduced angle ofapproximately degrees with the main arm 6 some time before the armcompletes its clockwise rotation to the page pick-up positionillustrated in FIG. 2B. This is illustrated in FIG. 3. This reduction inthe angle between the arm 6 and the auxiliary arm 29 preferably occursfairly early in the cycle of rotation of arm 6 and may actually besubstantially completed when arm 6 makes an angle of approximately 60degrees to the horizontal. The new right angle alignment of theauxiliary arm 29 with the main arm 6 places the pinion gear 28 in theproper position for correct engagement with gear rack 27.

After the arm 6 has rotated in the clockwise direction from the positionshown in FIG. 2A toward the position shown in FIG. 2B by an angle ofapproximately degrees, the cam follower roller 10, operating on fixedcam 8, causes radial outward movement of the auxiliary bar 12, and thegear rack 27, to rotate pinion 28, opening the finger 31 as shown inFIGS. 5B and 5C. At the same time, the arm 34 associated with finger 31operates upon the crank 35A through the tension cable 35 to rotate theadhesive portion of the finger 32 into parallel alignment with the toppage to be lifted and turned, as shown in FIG. 5C. The radial outwardmovement of the bar 12 also causes the projection 22 of that bar to beengaged and latched in the extended position by the hook of latch member23. This occurs after the end 25 of the latch trip lever 24 passes theprojection 26 during the clockwise rotation of arm 6. This latching ofbar 12 maintains the open position of finger 31 and the rotated positionof finger 32 as shown in FIG. 5C, until latch 23 is released.

As the finger 32 approaches the page, it slows down and quietly contactsand adheres to the page. As the motion of the main arm reverses, thepage is slowly lifted up and the speed of the arm gradually increases.When the arm 6 reaches an angle of about 60 degrees to the level in thereverse direction, the projection 25 of the latch release lever 24(-FIG. 1) engages the projection 26 upon the fixed cam 8, thus causingthe latch 23 to be released, permitting the bar 12 to quickly retract,and causing the finger 31 to quickly close to the position shown in FIG.5D. At the same time, the tip of the finger 32 is rotated by release ofthe arm 34 to position the nonadherent portion 33 of the finger 32opposite to the tip of finger 31. This rotating action tends to, atleast, partially, release the page from the adherent surface of finger32, the page being held then between the non-adherent part 33 and thefinger 31. As the arm rotation continues, through the operation of thefixed cam 7 the angle of the arm extension 29 is again increased, movingthe fingers 31 and 32 radially outwardly to allow the edge of the pageto slip through the fingers and to be released by them in the turnedposition. As the apparatus approaches the rest position shown in FIG.2A, the slack condition of the wire cable 43 causes the control switchto be opened, thus stopping the motor and ending the cycle of operation.The apparatus is thus ready for the performance of a new cycle ofoperation identical to that just described.

In specific embodiments, it has been found useful to provideinterchangeable main arm 6 of different lengths to accommodate for booksand magazines and pages of other documents which are of dilferent sizes.Typically, three different sizes may be provided.

While the particular embodiment of the invention just described has beendiscussed with reference to the operation of turning a page from rightto left, it is apparent that the parts can be reversed if desired so asto provide for the turning of pages from left to right. The reader maythen view the book from the side of the desk opposite to the apparatus.Furthermore, if desired, an identical apparatus may be placed on theopposite side of the book to provide for selective automatic turning ofthe pages of the book in either direction.

There are many different possible arrangements for the electricalactuating switch for initiating the operation of the apparatus. Forinstance, a foot actuated switch, or a switchintended to be actuated bysome other part of the body such as an elbow or knee may be employed, inaddition to a simple finger-operated push button. Furthermore,electrical actuation provides the possibility of a single control for agroup of page turning devices. For instance, if a group of thepage-turning devices in accordance with the present invention areemployed for each member of a musical group, a single electrical controlmay be provided for actuating all of the page-turning devices. Thecontrol may be operated by the musicalconductor of the group.

In a typical switching circuit arrangement, at least two switches may beemployed. One of these switches is maintained in an-open position by aslack condition of the wire cable 43 shown in FIG. 2A. Conversely, thatswitch is maintained in a closed position to energize the motor whenevercable 43 is extended by movement of the arm 6 away from the restposition shown in FIG. 2A. The other switch is the starting switchgandmay be a pushbutton "switch. It is wired in parallel with the switchactuated 6 by cable 43 to close the motor circuit and start theoperation of the arm. After the arm '6 starts, the cable 43 tightens andthe switch controlled by cable 43 closes. The pushbutton switch is thenreleased and the full cycle is carried out until the slack condition ofthe cable 43 causes that associated switch to open.

From the above description, it is believed to be apparent that theobjects of the present invention have been achieved, the inventionproviding an apparatus which is improved in many respects in terms oflower cost, smaller size and which is particularly notable for quietnessin operation.

While this invention has been shown and described in connection with aparticular preferred embodiment, it is apparent that various changes andmodifications, in addition to those mentioned above, may be made bythose who are skilled in the art without departing from the basicfeatures of the invention. Accordingly, it is the intention of theapplicants to protect all variations and modifications within the truespirit and valid scope of this invention.

We claim:

1. An automatic book page turning apparatus comprising an arm arrangedfor swinging movement from one side of the book to the other, whereinthe improvement comprises a first finger carried by said arm andincluding a finger tip portion having pressure sensitive adhesivethereon for engaging the upper side of the book page to be turned, asecond finger carried by said arm and pivotally arranged to swing intoengagement with the underside of the page after it has been lifted bysaid first finger, and separate means associated with said fingers forrotating said first finger with respect to said swinging arm to promotedisengagement of the page from said adhesive after the page has beenlifted.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first finger is providedwith a non-adhesive portion and the rotation of said first finger withrespect to said arm causes said non-adhesive portion of said firstfinger to be positioned opposite to the tip portion of said secondfinger when said second finger is swung into position to engage the pagebeing turned.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 including means for moving saidfingers radially outwardly with respect to said arm upon the returnswing of said arm as the page turning operation is being completed tomove said fingers beyond the outer margin of the page being turned tothereby cause said fingers to slip out of engagement with the page.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means for providingradially outward movement of said fingers comprises a push bar mountedupon said arm and having a cam follower roller, and a fixed cam mountedat the rotational hub of said arm arranged for engagement by saidroller.

5. Apparatus is claimed in claim 1 wherein means is provided foractuating said second finger to swing said second finger away from saidfirst finger as said arm swings toward a page engaging position, saidlast-named means comprising a push bar and a cam follower, a fixed cammounted at the rotational hub of said arm and arranged for engagement bysaid cam follower, a latching means arranged to latch said push bar inthe radially extended position corresponding to the open position ofsaid second finger, and means operable to release said latch to providefora sudden closing movement of said second finger after the page to beturned has been lifted by said first finger.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 including means for rotatingsaid first finger with respect to said swinging arm to promotedisengagement of the page from said adhesive surface after the page tobe turned has been lifted, and drive means for said first fingerrotating means, said drive means being connected to said second fingeractuating means and operable in association with said second finger foraccomplishing the rotation of said first finger in a sudden motion inconjunction with the sudden closing movement of said second finger.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arm swings from oneside to the other and then back again to provide a full page turningcycle of operation, drive means for said arm, said drive means beingoperable to provide for gradual acceleration and deceleration of saidarm in said swinging movement.

8. Apparatus'in accordance with claim 7 wherein said drive meanscomprises a rotatable shaft supporting said arm, a separate crank armconnected to said shaft, a connecting rod pivotally connected to saidcrank arm, and a motor driven rotatable drive wheel crank pivotallyconnected to the other end of said connecting rod.

9. Apparatus as claimed in'claijm 8 wherein said crank arm has avariable efiective lengthprovidedby a slotted connection at the pivotalconnection to said connecting rod, a pivot pin at said slotted pivotal.connection, and guide means comprising a guide-member having a guideslot for said pivot pin'for controlling the effective length LAWRENCECHARLES, Primary Examiner

